Explosion venting construction for buildings



Dec. 3, 1963 A. M. KINNEY 3,112,535

EXPLOSION VENTING CONSTRUCTION FOR BUILDINGS Filed Janll, 1960 4 sheets-Sheet l mmf/MM Dec. 3, 1963 A. M. KINNEY EXPLOSION VENTING CONSTRUCTION FOR BUILDINGS Filed Jan. ll, 1960 4 Sheets-She'et 2 ---:--/,-/,'\i;\\iil ,nul f MINFIN grof/irri A. M. KINNEY 3,112,535

EXPLOSION VENTING CONSTRUCTION FOR BUILDINGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 3, 1963 Filed Jan. ll, 1960 l 'Inl' MIM Arran/agi A. M. KINNEY 3,112,535

EXPLOSION vENTING CONSTRUCTION FOR BUILDINGS Dec. 3, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 11l 1960 INVENTOR. 7l 001V /W/v/vfr BY A United States Patent Oiiice assigner to Parke, Detroit, Mich., a corporation or The invention relates to buildings and is concerned with an improved build-ing construction to provide adeouate venting in case of explosion. More particularly the invention relates to a new type of window construction which permits the ejection of the window panels when the pressure within the building reaches a predetermined abnormal value requiring quick venting to avoid human casaulties and property damage.

While the invention in its broader aspects may be embodied in widely divergent specic constructions, the preferred embodiment contemplates that the normally closed window areas of the building wall are each ejected as a unit. The window closures themselves are made of a material which is resistant to shattering or breakage under explosive conditions. The mounting of the window in its frame in the building Wall is designed to facilitate its quick removal without damage. The mounting is also esigncd to facilitate initial installation during building construction and reinstallation after ejection of the window under explosive conditions.

Although the invention may be applied to a single window if so desired, it is particularly useful in a building in which the window area has a high ratio with respect to the total wall area. The invention is also well adapted to be used with prefabricated panel walls.

The principal object ofl the invention is to provide a building suitable for manufacture of chemicals, which building is so constructed as to withstand explosive forces with a minimum amount of while maintaining safety of its occupants.

In carrying out this objective, the invention contemplates a construction allowing a maximum use of the outside wans of the building for explosion venting while at the same time providing a design which is pleasing to the eye and relatively indestructible. Furthermore, the invention has for an important objective the provision of an explosion venting design for outside building walls which is adequate to meet safety requirements for the entire building without the necessity of special venting equipment through the roof.

An essential requirement of the explosion venting construction ot this invention is that it will meet the explosion venting requirements of insurance underwriters and building code authorities for buildings which use flammable solvents and other hazardous materials in the operations for which the building is designed. The present invention permits immediate explosion release, thereby reducing damage to production equipment, building structure and personnel.

The inventionincludes the use of plastic glazing to eliminate the hazard to personnel from broken glass if an explosion should occur. Plastic glazing incorporated in the building walls according to the principles of the present invention, remains undamaged upon release from the framing members and is expelled outwardly from the Wall and falls harmlessly to the ground. The undamaged plastic panels can then be reset in the building frame as a part of the clean-up operation following the explosion.

Other objects of the invention will be more apparent after consideration or the detailed description hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings:

damage to the building itselfy FIGURE l is a perspective view of a building in which the invention has been incorporated.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on the line of FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a concrete panel provided with window openings in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sect-ion on the line 5-5 oi FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of a modified construction.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8 8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the sealing between window and panel.

' FIG. l0 is a vertical section of a modied construction.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. l a perspective view of a building incorporating the present invention. It will be observed that most of the outside walls of the building have a high proportion of wi dow area, with only a relatively small amount of the total area in the form of the structural elements of the building. Each window opening is provided with a closure panel so constructed and arranged that it will be quickly ejected as aunt from the surrounding structure when an explosion takes place within the building. The details of the construction are better illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 which are each vertical sections on an enlarged scale. In these iews the building foundation is indicated at le and on this foundation are a plurality of prefabricated reinforced concrete sections 11, each of which is preferably of a size to contain several of the window openings l2. The concrete sections ll are arranged side by side and in tiers, one above the other, anf secured in position to form a complete structural wall by the usual methods of uniting prefabricated sections. The concrete sections are shown in elevation in FIG. 4 and further illustrated by the horizontal section of FIG. 5 and the vertical section of FIG. 6.

The sections 11 are provided with the generally rectangular window openings l2 formed by the marginal walls M with rounded corners l5. Between adjacent windowV openings the prefabricated sections constitute vertically extending ribs lo extending ribs 17.

The closure panels 19 are of plastic and as manufactured they are iiat sheets of generally rectangular form with rounded corners, composed of a transparent or translucent plastic. The means for securing the plastic panels to the concrete sections is such as to provide a mounting of a permanent nature resistant to displacement under all ordinary eircumstances but so constructed and arranged as to permit outward release Whenever there are abnormal conditions which require sudden venting of the interior of the building as a safety measure. Thus, the plastic panels can be bent into a convex form to iit within the window opening, with the side margins abutting the arcuate ledges iti formed in the concrete sections and the upper and lower margins engaging slots or grooves 2l.

One of .the advantages of .the bowed form of closure is .that pressure on the inside face tends to deform the panel to increase the bowing eflect and consequently to assist in the ejection of the panel through Lthe opening in the wall. While the convex deformation may be either in avertical or a horizontal direction, it is illustrated in FIG. 6 Ias extending from top to bottom. It will also be seen from FIG. 6 that grooves a series of and a series of horizontally Patented Dec. 3, 1965i` 21 are for-med in the build-V ing wall both at the top and bottom of the Lwindow opening, and each groove extends in a direction corresponding to the direction of the bowed panel when litted in place. With this arrangement the plastic panel is readily eiected whenever the gaseous pressure on the convex side is in excess of a predetermined val-ue and the panel will thereupon be expelled through the flaring opening in the building wall and will fall hanmlessly to the ground.

As hereinbefore set forth, the invention has for its primary object the provision of explosion venting in buildings but the novel construction of panel mounting can also be utilized in other types of building construction and `for other advantageous purposes. Thus, as shown in the modification of FIGS. 7 and 8, the convex pa el 19 can be mounted in the same manner as heretofore described but within the structural wall of the building there can also be arranged a conventional type of window 22.

In this type of construction the convex panel serves the,V

purpose of a storm window to provide insulation between the `two closures. r[his type of construction iinds particular advantage for use in lan oiiice section of the same building which also houses the chemical manufacturing department. It is desirable that the overall appearance of the building should harmonize both in the oilice section and the yfactory section. In the unusual event of an explosion in that section of the building using the conventional window 22, the force of the explosion would shatter the conventional window but at the same time would permit the ejection of the convex panel 19' in the salme manner as heretofore described. The inside window 22 is hinged at 23 to permit in swinging in order A to provide yaccess to panel 19.

ln FIG. 9 a modied sealing construction is illustrated. Here the grooves 21 in the wall construction 4are lformed in the concrete as previously described but are of a width to permit insertion of a sealing gasket 2S. This gasket has outside dimensions to fit within the groove and is formed with a slot 26 to receive the edge 2d of the plastic panel 19. Preferably, the slot is laterally offset with respect to the center line of the gasket, leaving a lip 27 of narrow width on one side of the panel :and an enlarged area 2S on the other side, apertured to provide resiliency. The lgasket lmay be made of rubber or other material used for sealing purposes.

In FIG. 1U', `another modiiied sealing constructionis illustrated. ln this arrangement, the groove 21 is of a width to receive a sealing gasket 29 which is arranged peripherlally around two panels 30, 3l. The panels 30, 3l are plastic sheets as in the previous embodiments described but are held in spaced lapart relation by the sealing strip 23 so as to provide an air space32 therebetween. The sealing str-ip 29 secures `the two panels 30,- 31 together around the entire periphery.

From the above description it will be understood that the invention provides a simple method of obtaining explosion release for perimeter walls to meet the explosion venting requirements olf insurance underwriters and building code authoritiesl for structures which utilize flammable solvents and other hazardous materials in their operation.

The invention permits immediateexplosion `release and thereby reduces damage to production equipment, building structure and personnel. The use of plastic glazing in lieu of glass eliminates the hazard yto personnel from broken glass should an explosion occur. Plastic glazing remains undmaged -upon release from the framing mem bers in internal explosion and falls harmlessly to the ground. These same undamaged panels can be reset in the building frame as part of the cleanup operation following the explosion. 'I'he flexed position `for the plastic panels permits the use of a larger glazing panel than that which could be used if lche glazing was installed in la ila-t plane, since the flexed position provides greater resistance to external wind load.

As previously stated, the .closure panels 19 are manufact-tired as flat sheets and are 4bent into convex formv 4 when they are inserted in the window openings. Each panel is made of aktransparent or translucent plastic material which can be readily flexed into a convex dorm of substantial curvature as indicated in the drawings. The plastic selected is one that has suitable light transmitting properties and heat transmitting properties. Furthermore, the plastic must be resistant to shock so as to withstand the effect 4of explosive forces as -well as the shock produced by the fall of the panel after it is ejected from its mounting. For example, the panel can be made of a fiberglass-reinforced polyester plastic. One suitable material is sold under the trademark Filou by The Plastics Corporation, El Segundo, California. When an explosion occurs, ejection of the panel is facilitated by the fact that the rwindow opening is of gradually increasing cross section by reason of the outwardly flaring margin-al walls.

In addition to the concrete draining system contemplated by the illustrated specific embodiments, the invention can readily be adapted for use with steel and other conventional framing systems. lts use can also be considered for masonry buildings by precasting sections as al-ready described and then introducing such sections into a masonry Wall opening as is presently done with conventional window frames.

While the Speciication has completely described a specitic embodiment of the invention and the best mode contemplated stood that the invention is not limited to thespecic ernbodiments described but includes all within the purview of the claims as hereinafter set forth.

What is claimed is:

l. A building having a side rwall provided with frame structure delining a generally rectangular opening therein,

a generally rectangular panel formed of a ilexible, nonfragile material closing said opening, :the inner face of the panel being exposed to the interior of the building, said panel comprising Atwo spaced plastic sheets marginally secured together around their en-ti-re peripheries, said frame structure having means Iforming a pair of outwardly bowed ledges along two opposite sides of the opening, said opening being unobstructed in an outward direction at saidV ledges, said frame structure having means along the other pair of opposite edges of the ope-ning forming grooves for reception of op-posite edge portions of the panel, said grooves being spaced from one another to maintain said panel exed into a bowed contour in an outwardly convex direction with its bowed opposite edge portions seated against the outer surfaces of said ledges and with its other pair of opposite edges seated in said grooves such that upon further bowing of the panel in an. outwarddi rection in response to the application of pressure to the inner face of `the panel such as might result from an explosive force within the building, s-aid last mentioned edge portions of the panel, by reason of said further flexing, are retracted from said grooves panel `as -a unit fromy the window opening.

2. A building having a side wall provided with frame structure detining a generally rectangular opening therein, a generally rectangular panel formed of a flexible, non-fragile material closing said opening, the inner lface of the panel being exposed to the interior of the building, said frame structure having means forming a pairv of outwardly bowed ledges along two opposite sides of the opening thereof, said opening being unobstructed in an outward direction at said ledges, said frame structure having means along its other pair of opposite edges `for engaging land interlocking with the other opposite edge portions of the panel, said last mentioned means being spaced from one another to maintain said panel flexed into a bowed contour in an bowed opposite edge portions seated Iagainst the outer sur-faces of said ledges and with its other pair of opposite edges interlocked with said last mentioned means, said last mentioned means being adapted to release said edge for carrying out the invention, it is to be under-v to permit ejection of :theV

outward direction with its i periens and the panel as a unit so `that the panel is ejected from `the opening upon che panel being further bowed outwardly by pressure #applied to the inner face thereof such as might result from an exposive force Within the building.

References Cite in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,979,951 Lyon NGV. 6, 1934 6 Helwig Oct. 11, 1938 Miller Oct. 28, 1941 Castor Sept. 12, 1944 Verhagen Dec. 17, 1946 Verhagen Oct. 2, 1951 Roos July 8, 1952 Ehret Jfune 9, v1953 Panhard lune 25, 1955 Zelov Nov. 27, 1956 

1. A BUILDING HAVING A SIDE WALL PROVIDED WITH FRAME STRUCTURE DEFINING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR OPENING THEREIN, A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR PANEL FORMED OF A FLEXIBLE, NONFRAGILE MATERIAL CLOSING SAID OPENING, THE INNER FACE OF THE PANEL BEING EXPOSED TO THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, SAID PANEL COMPRISING TWO SPACED PLASTIC SHEETS MARGINALLY SECURED TOGETHER AROUND THEIR ENTIRE PERIPHERIES, SAID FRAME STRUCTURE HAVING MEANS FORMING A PAIR OF OUTWARDLY BOWED LEDGES ALONG TWO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE OPENING, SAID OPENING BEING UNOBSTRUCTED IN AN OUTWARD DIRECTION AT SAID LEDGES, SAID FRAME STRUCTURE HAVING MEANS ALONG THE OTHER PAIR OF OPPOSITE EDGES OF THE OPENING FORMING GROOVES FOR RECEPTION OF OPPOSITE EDGE PORTIONS OF THE PANEL, SAID GROOVES BEING SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER TO MAINTAIN SAID PANEL FLEXED INTO A BOWED CONTOUR IN AN OUTWARDLY CONVEX DIRECTION WITH ITS BOWED OPPOSITE EDGE PORTIONS SEATED AGAINST THE OUTER SURFACES OF SAID LEDGES AND WITH ITS OTHER PAIR OF OPPOSITE EDGES SEATED IN SAID GROOVES SUCH THAT UPON FURTHER BOWING OF THE PANEL IN AN OUTWARD DIRECTION IN RESPONSE TO THE APPLICATION OF PRESSURE TO THE INNER FACE OF THE PANEL SUCH AS MIGHT RESULT FROM AN EXPLOSIVE FORCE WITHIN THE BUILDING, SAID LAST MENTIONED EDGE PORTIONS OF THE PANEL, BY REASON OF SAID FURTHER FLEXING, ARE RETRACTED FROM SAID GROOVES TO PERMIT EJECTION OF THE PANEL AS A UNIT FROM THE WINDOW OPENING. 